The 35-year-old journeyman (above) had struck out in his previous two at-bats.
AMAZIN’ MOMENT: Marlon Byrd (center) is congratulated by teammates after his two-run, walk-off single gave the Mets a 4-3 victory over the Marlins yesterday at Citi Field. The 35-year-old journeyman (inset) had struck out in his previous two at-bats. (
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Marlon Byrd believed he was capable of still playing baseball, but he was curious if a major league club was going to offer him a contract.
The 35-year-old Byrd endured a brutal 2012 season — traded by the Cubs, being suspended after failing a drug test, being released by the Red Sox and batting a lowly .210 for the year. He didn’t play after June 8, even after being reinstated following his suspension. He didn’t have a team for 2013 through January.
“I wondered if a team or any organization was going to take a flier on me,” Byrd said. “I could still play. If a team doesn’t give me a job, there’s not much you can do.”
Byrd isn’t sure whether any other team bid for him, but said when his agent informed him of the Mets’ interest, he said, “Please, get this done.”
On Feb. 1, he signed a minor league deal with the Mets, then ripped up the Grapefruit League and started on Opening Day in right field.
Byrd’s walk-off two-run single down the left field line in yesterday’s ninth inning thrust the Mets to a 4-3 win over the Marlins and ranks as the biggest hit on their season-opening homestand. The Mets took the final two games against Miami, have won their two opening series of the season for the first time since 2006 and are now 4-2 on the year going into Philadelphia tonight.
“You want to win series, especially at home,” Ike Davis said, addressing the difference of being 4-2 instead of 3-3. “It means you’re two games above .500 instead of even.”
The Mets put up four wins in six games against what appears to be two terrible teams in the Padres and Marlins. And they hardly sent a message to Miami — they very easily could have lost two of three.
Still, give the Mets credit for their early success. Especially since the Mets clearly had the lesser starting pitcher yesterday, as impressive 20-year-old Marlins righty Jose Fernandez shut them down.
Firing 96 mph fastballs in not only his major league debut but his first start above Class-A, Fernandez retired the first 10 Mets and permitted just one run on three hits in five innings, striking out eight.
Left-hander Aaron Laffey started for the Mets in place of the injured Shaun Marcum, surrendering three runs in 4 1/3 innings, putting 12 men on base.
Trailing 3-1 in the sixth, Daniel Murphy smashed a leadoff homer off reliever A.J. Ramos. Then in the ninth against closer Steve Cishek, Ruben Tejada was hit by a pitch with one out and pinch hitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis singled to left-center, with Tejada taking third.
“They’re playing no-doubles,” Tejada said, “so it’s a good situation for first to third.”
Nieuwenhuis took second on the throw, and Byrd followed with his walk-off single, his teammates mobbing him on the infield.
“It’s got to be just amazing for [Byrd],” Davis said. “Battling back and getting back on this stage and coming through, especially in New York.”
Byrd’s offseason was spent in Mexico, as he played winter ball for the first time in his career, hitting .318 for Culiacan. In spring training, he batted .357 for the Mets.
“Man,” Murphy said, “that guy’s been competing for the last six months.”
Even though Byrd is the team’s oldest position player, Davis called having him “refreshing,” saying of Byrd’s energy, “He’s got a youthful thing about him.” So far this season, Byrd’s hitting .278 (5-for-18) with four RBIs, solid enough production in his major league return.